MLS Preview: Top 10 Must Watch Players Of African Descent - #8 Kei Kamara

The heart shaped hands goal machine embraces new challenge

Soccer player Kei Kamara attends the 2016 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.

(July 12, 2016 - Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America)

The big time, big smile, big heart and big goals player and a veteran of nomadic nature in the MLS is once again on the cusp of a new adventure with the Colorado Rapids, his seventh MLS club to date. The Sierra Leone international was nabbed by FC Cincinnati in December 2018 who immediately traded him to the Colorado Rapids after Vancouver Whitecaps let go of the 34-year-old. The forward netted 14 goals in the just ended MLS season, helped in mentoring youngsters such as the Bayern Munich winger, Alphonso Davies and was not shy to describe the shocking nature of the club’s decision. However, as always, the veteran MLS player who also had brief stints with English Premier League side, Norwich City and Championship contenders in Middlesbrough sees only positives ahead. Having scored double figure goals in the past 5 seasons, the Rapids have a top quality and proven forward in Kamara, one they were lacking in the 2018 MLS season that saw them finish 11th in the Western Conference and scoring at least 13 fewer goals than any other club.

The MLS’ sixth all time leading goal scorer moved to United States at age 16 through a refugee program from the Gambia after they had fled his native war-torn Sierra Leone. He briefly spent time in Maryland before moving to Los Angeles where eventually played college soccer at California State University. The founder of the Kei Kamara Heart Shaped Hands Foundation that helps children with school fees and scholarships, is relishing the new challenge and quite excited to find a new home as he has always done throughout his life.

It’s inconceivable that Kei will not add more to his 90 MLS goals tally and 36 assists in 268 appearances. He may not be the same player who had a memorable 2015 season, scoring a league high 22-goals and winning several individual accolades, but he still got it.

MLS Preview: Top 10 Must Watch Players Of African Descent - #9 Bill Hamid

The homegrown record-breaker can help lead DC United to glory this season.

Bill Hamid #28 of DC United reacts during a game against the Philadelphia Union at RFK Stadium on August 19, 2012 in Washington, DC.

(Aug. 18, 2012 - Source: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images North America)

The 28-year-old goalkeeper is a man who need no introduction. Bilal “Bill”Abdul Hamid is undisputedly one of the best goalkeepers in the MLS and we believe he will be key for his boyhood club, D.C United in the 2019 season.Bill has just one year left on his one and a half loan contract from Danish Superliga club, FC Midtjylland where he fell out favor upon moving to Denmark. This year in particular, he will even be eager to play for his career with his future still a subject of speculation and there may be no better time to do it than now. Upon the arrival of former English captain and Manchester United forward, half-way through the season, the “Black and Red” received a major boost even reaching the knockout round of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs. Rooney ended the season as the club’s top goal scorer with 12 to his name, many will be eager to see how much he can give in a full season and Hamid will be the goal minder in the spotlight as the 4 time MLS Cup winners embark on a new mission.

As previously elaborated, Bill Hamid in itself is no small name. He became the first D.C United Academy Player to sign for the first team in 2009 also becoming the youngest goalkeeper to win an MLS match back in 2010 as a 19-year-old, surpassing the record of the legendary Tim Howard. Hamid, whose parents are from Sierra Leone, helped the U.S Men’s National Team to the 2013 and 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Individually, he won the 2012 MLS Goalkeeper of The Year Award and will perhaps remind everyone just how good he is in the 2019 campaign.

For those still wondering who this guy is, you may remember him as the man who pioneered one of the D.C fans’ chants after a video of him pounding his chest and passionately declaring, “you can’t hold us back!” circulated on the internet. This was after Hamid was red carded in the 2012 playoffs against New York Red Bulls. The goalkeeper with a record 88 saves in MLS season is available and we couldn’t be more excited to see what he has to offer this time around.

2019 AFCON Qualifiers: Sierra Leone suspension postpones Ghana's redemption

Andre Ayew of Ghana celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Germany and Ghana at Castelao on June 21, 2014 in Fortaleza, Brazil.

(June 20, 2014 - Source: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images South America)

Things will get heated in the men’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers over the next couple of days. We are spoiled with two legged fixtures (matchday 3 and 4) for all the participants with the first leg coming to our screens as early as Wednesday, 10th of October and the final matches of the second legs finishing one week later. This means that a crucial six points is up for grabs for all teams and also at risk of slipping away.

Ghana and Sierra Leone were supposed to serve up two of the 48 AFCON Qualifiers to be played over this international break. Both ties have been cancelled by FIFA who are punishing Sierra Leone for not meeting its demands of reinstating the country’s football association officials who were relieved of their duties for alleged wrongdoing. It’s still uncertain on whether the matches will be played at a later date or if that would be the end of the road to Cameroon 2019 for the Leone Stars. What’s apparent is that the Black Stars’ redemption would have to wait.

Despite a spirited performance by the Atletico Madrid midfield maestro, Thomas Partey, Ghana suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Kenya on matchday 2 and has been left with all to do in an open group also featuring Kenya and Ethiopia, will all teams tied on 3 points. Ghanaian coach, Kwesi Appiah had recalled record goal scorer and the South Africa World Cup 2010 star player, Asamaoh Gyan back to the squad to spur the nation to a much needed qualification, especially now that the country’s football has recently been mingled in a fair share of controversies. The suspension of the two matches will perhaps give time for Mr. Appiah to digest his controversial decisions to leave out the Ayew brothers from the squad. Jordan Ayew has been slowly jelling into Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace whereas 28-year-old  Andre Ayew has found life sweeter at Fenerbahce, scoring twice in seven appearances. Maybe its continued punishment for both players’ decision to leave the Ghanaian camp for the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Congo, the tournament which they shockingly missed out on reaching the Russia finals after a series of shocking results against Uganda and Egypt.

The nation of Ghana would have to wait for much needed redemption of the footballing aspect of their society.

Ghana’s full squad that would have faced Sierra Leone:

 Goalkeepers:

Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United, SA), Lawrence Ati-Zigi (Sochaux, France) and Felix Annan (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)

Matt Besler of the United States challenges Jordan Ayew of Ghana during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and the United States at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil.

(June 15, 2014 - Source: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images South America)

Defenders:

Andy Yiadom (Reading, England), John Boye (FC Metz, France) Harrison Afful (Columbus Crew, USA), Jonathan Mensah (Columbus Crew, USA), Daniel Amartey (Leicester City, England) Nicholas Opoku (Udinese, Italy) and Lumor Agbenyenu (Sporting Lisbon, Portugal)

Midfielders:

Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid, Spain) Mubarak Wakaso (Alaves, Spain), Afriyie Acquah (Empoli, Italy), Christian Atsu (Newcastle United, England), Bernard Mensah (Kayserispor, Turkey), Thomas Agyapong (Hibernian, Scotland), Isaac Sackey (Alanyaspor, Turkey), Nana Ampomah (Waasland-Beveren, Belgium)and Kwadwo Asamoah (Inter Milan, Italy)

Forwards:

Asamoah Gyan (Kayserispor, Turkey) Richmond Boakye-Yiadom (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia), Majeed Waris (Nantes, France) and Emmanuel Boateng (Levante, Spain)

Internationals: Iran-Sierra Leone friendly subject to match-fixing scrutiny

Sierra Leone FA’s (SLFA) president, Isha Johansen has petitioned FIFA’s Match-Fixing Enquiry Committee to investigate the Iran-Sierra Leone friendly that took place in Tehran, in February 2018. Isha claims that an under-strength side left the country without her consent and suspects that all the logistics and communications between SLFA and the Iranian federation( FFIRI) were handled by rival cabals in the SLFA.

FFIRI funded Sierra Leone ’s flights and accommodation in this arrangement and alluded that they would have canceled the match if they had known of its alleged true nature.

"My fear is that activities may have already taken place unknowingly to me for which I may one day [have] to account for." - Isha Johansen, SLFA President
Iran won the match 4-0 and is currently in its final phases of their world cup appearance in June 2018 where they will play Portugal, Morocco, and Spain in Group B.